ROGER TORY PETERSON: 1908-1996: THE BIRDMAN OF AMERICA

Last week intrepid birders--they don't call themselves bird watchers anymore--were combing western Washington and southwestern British Columbia in pursuit of, among other species, the black-footed albatross and crested myna. Or they were in southeastern Arizona, stalking the violet-crowned hummingbird and sulphur-bellied flycatcher, all the while praying for a glimpse of the rare eared trogon.

Because one of the feathery pleasures of a birding trip is to escape from current events, many such pilgrims had to return to civilization before hearing the news: Roger Tory Peterson, the world's most famous birder and the man who single-handedly opened up ornithology to the masses,...